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| Michele Hershberger (right), chair of the Bible department at Hesston College, points to a line of text of the ancient Hebrew scroll loaned to the college by Melvin and Vivian Eyster of Thomas, Okla. |
August 25, 2005
An historic Hebrew scroll more
than 300 years old has been loaned to Hesston College by Melvin and
Vivian Eyster of Thomas, Okla.
The ancient scroll scribed in
a Jewish scriptorium in the mid-to-late 17th century by Moroccan Jews
has been appraised at $92,500. It will be on display in Smith Center
for special occasions, like Opening Weekend August 19-21, Inauguration/Homecoming
Weekend October 28-30, and so on.
The manuscript is in Hebrew, on
sheep skins that are sewn and scrolled on two wooden rollers. It is
approximately 23 inches tall, 92 feet long, and weighs some 40 pounds.
The scroll contains the Torah, or Pentateuch, the first five books
of the Jewish Bible and the Christian Old Testament.
Certified appraiser Lee Biondi,
Venice, Calif., said the scroll is "in overall superb condition,
given the fact that these scrolls were intended for constant use in
the synagogues of the Moroccan Jewish communities."
Melvin Eyster said he learned
of the availability of the scroll recently when he contacted his investment
broker in Atlanta. "When I learned about this scroll, I didn't
waste any time making a decision. There aren't many of these around."
Eyster said the scroll is one of the older ones of nine that a family
in Phoenix inherited.
Eyster said he and his wife Vivian
decided to loan the historic scroll to Hesston College because of
their connections to the college. Vivian graduated from Hesston Academy
in 1953, and attended Hesston College. Many of her family members
have also attended the college. The couple was married at Hesston
Mennonite Church on April 21, 1957.
Eysters plan to donate the scroll
to the college one year from now.
Michele Hershberger, chair of
the Bible department, said the college is thrilled to have the ancient
scroll. "It's huge and beautiful. It's such an incredible gift
to the college.
"This scroll is a symbol
of how seriously we take the Bible," she continued. "It
will open new doors of opportunity for learning and growth between
our college community and the Jewish community of Wichita.
"This scroll will make the
Bible come alive to my students," Hershberger said. "I talk
to my students about how the Bible was originally written on animal
skins and that it is read right to left in Hebrew," she explained.
"Now my students can see for themselves. Most students would
have to go to a scriptorium to see something like this." She
explained that a scriptorium is a special museum of ancient scrolls
and books.
Hershberger said she has spoken
by phone with Rabbi Michael Davis of Congregation Emanu-El synagogue
in Wichita. He told her that the oldest Torah scroll in Wichita is
75 years old. "He will be invited to purify our scroll if he
wants to," Hershberger said. "The rabbi will also get us
specific storage information dealing with humidity, lighting, and
temperature, along with instructions about appropriate handling of
this sacred text.
"This is a great opportunity
for us to demonstrate goodwill to them," she said. "The
more respect we give the Torah, the more respect we give to the Jewish
community. The Torah is everything to the Jews; it's precious."
"Of course, the Torah is
part of our tradition," she said. "The Old Testament is
also part of us."
Dr. Craig Lampe, curator of the
Bible Museum, Goodyear, Ariz., commented about the scroll. "This
scroll is a truly great relic and the most sacred artifact in antiquity
to the Judeo-Christian culture," he said. "For Christians,
it is a true and tangible evidence of God's faithfulness in preserving
his word."